Full Arch Dental Implants - All About All-On-4 and Teeth In a Day

If you’ve considered replacing your existing full arch of teeth with dental implants, you may have heard the term “all-on-4” or “teeth in a day” but you may be questioning what those terms really mean. All-on-4 or Teeth in a Day is a unique dental implant supported denture process. Rather than a laborious process involving several steps (removing teeth and placing dental implants, designing the denture, then finally attaching the denture over the course of months), All-on-4 or Teeth in a Day streamlines the process. 

This is the way we now prefer to reconstruct the toothless jaw. If the jaw is strong and has enough bone, we can remove all remaining teeth and immediately place implants, which can then support a prosthetic device that will look natural and can be used the same day. In simpler terms, you leave the office with a fully functioning set of teeth!

The name stems from literature which supports placement of the prosthetic device on four dental implants spread out across the jaw evenly. The first (provisional) prosthetic is not only esthetically pleasing, but is useful in function. However, it does need to be replaced with a stronger device once the bone has integrated with the implant surface. This part of the healing process takes approximately 4-6 months to complete. 

Once the implants have properly integrated with the bone (a term known as osseointegration), the permanent prosthesis will be created. Most patients who have undergone the All-on-4 or Teeth in a day process to replace a full arch of teeth are extremely satisfied with their results. It allows patients to smile with confidence again and eat the foods they love.

What is the difference between traditional dentures and All-on-4?

Dentures have been around a long time and are actually 12th Century technology.  They rest on soft tissue and as a result, they end up moving around quite a bit. They are somewhat esthetic, but they are not terribly functional. They do not preserve bone at all, as a matter of fact, they lead to bone resorption. An implant-born device like an All-on-4 is something fixed onto stable implants (in bone), and those implants maintain bone due to constant stress placed on the bone. Since the implants do not move, neither does the device. The level of function is outstanding and the overall satisfaction for this treatment is so much higher than with dentures.  

Am I a candidate for full mouth rehabilitation?

Full mouth options can include everything from a denture, to a locator retained denture or to a fixed hybrid (All-on-4, Teeth In A Day, TeethXpress, etc.) These full mouth options are for people whose remaining teeth are in poor condition, or who have lost all teeth entirely. As a general rule, if you do not have any remaining molars or premolars, you might be a candidate for a full mouth rehabilitation, especially if the remaining teeth are in poor condition.

Why am I losing my teeth?

Tooth loss is most likely a result of either not taking care of the tooth structurally, or having had a particular tooth (or multiple teeth) repaired several times. Total negligence of the tooth and the gums can also lead to severe problems, but this is not the case in the majority of teeth that go bad. Periodontal disease that remains unchecked will eventually lead to tooth loss, as will negligent or poor hygiene.  

Fortunately, there are many options to replace failing teeth. If you are concerned about the health and longevity of your teeth, we encourage you to contact our team for a consultation. During your consultation, the doctor and team will take a series of x-rays and scans to help them determine the best course of treatment for you. We offer several financing options to make dental treatments more affordable for our patients. To learn more, contact our team today.